The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-01-20
A KENTUCKY CHARACTER.
Anecdotes of IN Old Brisadicr Congress-
man.

man.
One of the characters in the house is
; Gen. Wolford, of Kentucky. When he
! is at home he wears an old flannel shirt
and pants strapped about his waist.
| When he came here he found he had to
I change his costume and put on 'biled'
, shirt and black clothes. At first he was
aycrse TO this, but some friends bought
him black SUIT. He has worn it ever
since, and this is his second term. But
he would not dare 60 home dressed rs
he is now. for his constituents would
I think he had become cffeminate. Sew
eral good stories are told of his first
campaign, when he took the stump
against Gen. Fry. When he was first
nominated By the democrats for con-
gress Gen.Fry asked him 10 unite with
him and make several speeches together.
Wolford accepted the Invitation. The
first meeting W; enough fer Gen. Fry.
Gen. Woifcrd commanded the lst Ken
lucky cavalry in the union army. and
She regiment Was known ss tho ''crittcr-
backs" He had sr-era. of his men on
the platform with him when he made
his speech. lie opened most brilliantly,
but suddenly startled Gen. Fry By ask
ing the assemblage if they knew what
the union had done with Gen. Lee after
he surrendered st Appomat;ox, why.
gentlemen-will you believe it?-when
he was out walking under an apple-tree
near the very house where he surrender
ed, they grabbed him Yes, the Isen
who had granted him a parole seized
-, 4
but they hung Gen. Lee to the very
apple-:ree under which i,e was walking!
Hung him dead" Gen. Fry at first was
SO surprised he could not speak, but.
jumping to his fee. he said, Gen. VOL
ford, you know that is not SO. Gen. Lee
was never hung"
"But, SIR" exclaimed Gen. Wolford.
81 was there.and know it is so. Wasn't
it John?" and he turned 10 one of his
''critterbacks." The nan nodded his
head, as did the others who sat near
him. Gen. Fry sank back in his chair
overcome.
This is not all" said Gen. Wolford,
turning to the crowd in front of him.
The union men locked JEFF Davis up in
Fortress Monroe, and one beautiful
moonlight night when the tide was low,
they took Kim out and tied him to u stake
On the beach. The sea came in gradu-
ally, the waves swept over him, and he
was drowned, and they stood and heard
h;s cries"
This was too much for Gen. FRY.
Again he protested, and said that JEFF
Davis was alive still, hut the ''critter-
backs" indorsed Gen. Wolford. and sec
ing that his opponent intended to keep
the thing up. Gen. Fry withdrew, and
Gen. Noiford was elected by rousing
majority.
Another story is told OF Cen Wolsord
when he was trying case in hi. native
town in Adair county, kentucky. His
client had been charged with poisoning
someone. The chemist for Inc state hsd
testified 20 finding arsenic in the stoE-
ach Of tie deceassd, and then Gen. VOL
ford took the witness in hand.
Did you Gnd any flies wings in tho
E.omach?" asked tho General.
No, sir; for | did not look for any. /
found arsenic" answered the chemist.
Gould YOU swear that there were no
flies wings in the s:omach?" be asked.
No. sir; because did not look for
them"
How did ycu know they were not
there?"
Il don't say they were net"
That's funny. You say you found |
arsenic, but 40 ny wings. Yet you are
not certain as 20 their not being there"
said Gen. Wolford. The witness in vain |
tried to explain, the lawyer had twisted
the witness up, and so he addressed the |
jury. Gentlemen, demand the acquit-
tai Of nv client. The chemist says he |
found arsenic in the stomach of the de- |
ceased, but 10 ly wings. Yet every
body knows that when anyone swallows |
one or two flies they turn 20 arsenic in
the stomach, We: no fly wings were
foInd. therefore doubt il there was any
arsenic there either" The man was 40 |
quilted. Tribune.